55^th Annual Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice Conference

Holistic Nursing

Holistic nurses are those who recognize and treat every patient differently. They nurture wholeness and healing by respecting each patient’s unique physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental strengths and challenges and honouring patient's qualities, wellbeing convictions and wellbeing experience. Holistic nurses encourage associations with their patients to promote healing and wellness. Holistic nursing is based on the principle that a patient's biological, social, mental and otherworldly perspectives are interconnected. These aspects fit together to form a unique person. Subsequently, holistic nursing focuses on individualized care by understanding each patient's needs. Holistic nurses perform many of the same basic duties as other nurses, with the addition of fully focusing on making a patient feel relaxed, comfortable and part of the healing process. Nurses should become familiar with a patient's name, keep in touch, show compassion, and use imagery and relaxation techniques for pain control as opposed to directing drug whenever the situation allows.